CF NOTEBOOK

Trio earns all-state honors for Patriots

College of Central Florida outfielder Christian Khawam was a first-team all-state selection. He also earned all-tournament honors at the FCSAA State Tournament for the Patriots.

AP photo

Courtesy of CF Sports Information

Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:54 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 10:54 a.m.

A trio of College of Central Florida baseball players earned all-state honors.

Christian Khawam continued to rack up honors, as he led the Patriots with a first-team all-state pick as an outfielder. Khawam, a freshman from Miami Southridge, added the all-state honor to his CF Male Athlete of the Year honor and baseball MVP.

Making the second-team for the Patriots were infielder Enderson Velasquez and pitcher Boomer Biegalski.

Khawam and Velasquez also earned all-tournament honors for CF at the FCSAA State Tournament. The duo combined for five home runs in the event.

Khawam, who hit three during the tournament, became the first CF player to hit multiple home runs in a state tournament game since Tom Locke hit two against Valencia in 1980.

SZYMANOWSKI HONORED: CF softball standout Amy Szymanowski received her biggest honor to date recently. Szymanowski, the state's career home run record holder, earned the Jean Williams Award, which is considered the most prestigious honor awarded by the FCSAA.

“She's made more impact than anyone other softball player we've had here at CF,” Patriots softball coach Kevin Fagan said.

The Williams Award requires at least a 3.30 grade-point average, good citizenship and athletic prowess.

“She's a great representative who meets everything you would want in a student-athlete,” CF athletic director Bob Zelinski said.

The Florida State signee easily met the criteria with her record-breaking career for the Patriots, as well as her efforts in the classroom. She holds a 3.90 GPA in 61 semester hours at the end of the fall 2013 semester.

Szymanowski, a political science major, has been on the President's List with a perfect 4.00 GPA in the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 semesters.

As a freshman, she earned second-team NFCA All-American honors with a .343 average, 16 homers and 47 RBI while setting both the single season and career home run marks.

The previous career record for home runs was 12 at CF.

Szymanowski also earned first-team all-Mid Florida Conference honors, first-team all-FCSAA honors and first-team NJCAA All-District recognition. She was a member of the FCSAA State/All District Team and the CF Athlete of the Year.

As a sophomore, the Land O'Lakes Sunlake High graduate extended her career home run record to 39 and surpassed her single season mark with 23.

She also has the school records for RBI in a career, slugging percentage for single season and career, and runs for single season and career.

After finishing as runner-up for the MFC Player of the Year as a freshman, Szymanowski won the award as a sophomore. She was also the repeat winner of the CF Female Athlete of the Year and also earned the CF Scholar Athlete of the Year.

In addition to her work on the field and in the classroom, Szymanowski has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Church Liturgy.

Szymanowski lost her brother in a motorcycle accident and has used the tragedy to help others by speaking at motorcycle awareness events around the region. She has also worked with the March of Dimes, participated in Heart Walk, and volunteered at community clean-up.

BOWEN SIGNS WITH FLORIDA SOUTHERN: Taylor Bowen recently signed a letter-of-intent with Florida Southern after going 20-7 in the circle for the Patriots this spring.

“She comes to work hard every day,” Fagan said. “She always has a smile and has a great demeanor.

“We are real proud of her for all she has accomplished.”

COMPLETING THE JOB: CF's Biegalski and Collin Woody combined to throw three complete game at the state tournament.

Prior to that, CF had just four complete games in its history at the state tournament.

Biegalski also set state tournament school records for strikeouts in a game (13) and most innings pitched (18).

<p>A trio of College of Central Florida baseball players earned all-state honors.</p><p>Christian Khawam continued to rack up honors, as he led the Patriots with a first-team all-state pick as an outfielder. Khawam, a freshman from Miami Southridge, added the all-state honor to his CF Male Athlete of the Year honor and baseball MVP.</p><p>Making the second-team for the Patriots were infielder Enderson Velasquez and pitcher Boomer Biegalski.</p><p>Khawam and Velasquez also earned all-tournament honors for CF at the FCSAA State Tournament. The duo combined for five home runs in the event.</p><p>Khawam, who hit three during the tournament, became the first CF player to hit multiple home runs in a state tournament game since Tom Locke hit two against Valencia in 1980.</p><p><b>SZYMANOWSKI HONORED:</b> CF softball standout Amy Szymanowski received her biggest honor to date recently. Szymanowski, the state's career home run record holder, earned the Jean Williams Award, which is considered the most prestigious honor awarded by the FCSAA.</p><p>“She's made more impact than anyone other softball player we've had here at CF,” Patriots softball coach Kevin Fagan said.</p><p>The Williams Award requires at least a 3.30 grade-point average, good citizenship and athletic prowess.</p><p>“She's a great representative who meets everything you would want in a student-athlete,” CF athletic director Bob Zelinski said.</p><p>The Florida State signee easily met the criteria with her record-breaking career for the Patriots, as well as her efforts in the classroom. She holds a 3.90 GPA in 61 semester hours at the end of the fall 2013 semester.</p><p>Szymanowski, a political science major, has been on the President's List with a perfect 4.00 GPA in the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 semesters.</p><p>As a freshman, she earned second-team NFCA All-American honors with a .343 average, 16 homers and 47 RBI while setting both the single season and career home run marks.</p><p>The previous career record for home runs was 12 at CF.</p><p>Szymanowski also earned first-team all-Mid Florida Conference honors, first-team all-FCSAA honors and first-team NJCAA All-District recognition. She was a member of the FCSAA State/All District Team and the CF Athlete of the Year.</p><p>As a sophomore, the Land O'Lakes Sunlake High graduate extended her career home run record to 39 and surpassed her single season mark with 23.</p><p>She also has the school records for RBI in a career, slugging percentage for single season and career, and runs for single season and career.</p><p>After finishing as runner-up for the MFC Player of the Year as a freshman, Szymanowski won the award as a sophomore. She was also the repeat winner of the CF Female Athlete of the Year and also earned the CF Scholar Athlete of the Year.</p><p>In addition to her work on the field and in the classroom, Szymanowski has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Church Liturgy.</p><p>Szymanowski lost her brother in a motorcycle accident and has used the tragedy to help others by speaking at motorcycle awareness events around the region. She has also worked with the March of Dimes, participated in Heart Walk, and volunteered at community clean-up.</p><p><b>BOWEN SIGNS WITH FLORIDA SOUTHERN:</b> Taylor Bowen recently signed a letter-of-intent with Florida Southern after going 20-7 in the circle for the Patriots this spring.</p><p>“She comes to work hard every day,” Fagan said. “She always has a smile and has a great demeanor.</p><p>“We are real proud of her for all she has accomplished.”</p><p><b>COMPLETING THE JOB:</b> CF's Biegalski and Collin Woody combined to throw three complete game at the state tournament.</p><p>Prior to that, CF had just four complete games in its history at the state tournament.</p><p>Biegalski also set state tournament school records for strikeouts in a game (13) and most innings pitched (18).</p>